The impact of storm water runoff on a small urban stream

Background, aim, and scope  In urban areas, storm water runoff often transports various pollutants, some of which settle and form sediments. In order to have the comprehensive view of the ecological state of storm water runoff recipients, both water and sediments of the stream must be assessed. In the Baltic Sea Area, the Water Framework Directive & HELCOM Recommendations aim to prevent or minimise pollution caused by harmful substances arising from storm water runoff, in order to promote the ecological restoration of the Baltic Sea—one of the most vulnerable seas. The aim of the study was to investigate the toxicity of bottom sediments of a small storm water runoff recipient focusing on the potential impact of successive discharges of urban storm water. Some storm water runoff quality parameters and the toxicity of bottom sediments of recipients was studied in this research. Materials and methods  During 9 years, at four discharge points, minimum four grab samples per year at each discharge point were taken for chemical characterisation. General parameters (pH, SS, BOD₇, COD_Cr and TPH) in liquid phase samples were analysed according to standard methods. Annual limit values were taken from the Lithuanian EPA requirements for the management of storm water runoff with a focus on prevention and control of contamination. Eleven composite samples of stream bottom sediments, each consisting of ten sub-samples, were collected in 2006. Toxicity screening from sediments was performed using the plant Lepidium sativum according to modified I. Magone’s methodology (Magone I, Bioindication of phytotoxicity of transport emission. In: Kachalova O-L, Zinatne (eds) Bioindication of toxicity of transport emissions in the impact of highway emissions on natural environment. Riga, pp 108–116, 1989). The level of toxic impact of Lepidium sativum (compared to control) was assessed according to the modified method of Wang (Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 126:88–127, 1992). Results  The mean pH of urban storm water runoff does not vary much from neutral, but range values are quite different, from 4.0 up to 8.7. The highest concentration of SS reached 800 mg L⁻¹, TPH—2.4 mg L⁻¹, BOD₇—300 mg O₂ L⁻¹ and COD_Cr—1,400 mg L⁻¹. The SS was above the limit in 64% of total amount of grab samples, TPH—37%, BOD₇—41% and COD_Cr—55%. The toxicity analysis of the bottom sediments showed varying toxicity of bottom sediments along the stream. From nine analysed samples of bottom sediments, 30% had weak toxicity, 30% medium and 30% strong toxicity on the test organism plant L. sativum. There was one single sample with no toxic effects, so that the results showed that urban storm water has an unacceptable environmental impact on recipients. It was also indicated that storm water runoff discharge alone is not the potential source of toxicity of bottom sediments. The litter demonstrated a weak toxicity of bottom sediments as well. Discussion  Most local authorities do not consider storm water runoff discharges to be a matter of great concern because they believe that surface runoff arising from rainfall is still relatively clean. The study showed that the current method of monitoring storm water runoff quality by chemical analyses is not the best tool for environmental impact assessment and must be combined with toxicity tests of bottom sediments of recipients. Recommendations and perspectives  To avoid the environmental impact of storm water runoff more attention should be paid to the development and implementation of storm water runoff pollution prevention measures. The study implies that future research concerning the relationships between storm water runoff deposit characteristics and biological activities must be developed to evaluate the contamination potential of stream sediment deposits for local aquatic ecosystems. Further studies should be developed to characterise the activities of the microbial community of storm water runoff sediments, and to monitor bioremediation in situ.     

Transport of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons through a partly urbanized river basin

The PAH-pollutant loads resulting from storm runoff to a receiving stream are associated with high concentrations of suspended sediments. This is explained by the sorption coefficients and isotherms on street dust, suspended solids, bedload and other sorbents. Pollutographs for a stream with storm runoff mainly from storm water overflows from a combined sewered medium sized town show strong ‘first-flush’ phenomena. Rainfall and bedload contribute only to a lesser extent to the overall transport which stems from street dust washoff. High correlation between total PAH load and maximum flow, but no relation between total PAH load and the number of days since the previous storm, indicates a ‘low washoff case’ under ‘transport limited’ conditions. 3.4-Benzopyrene load was modeled by a pollutant washoff function analoguous to that of the EPA storm water model.     

珠海城区暴雨径流污染负荷估算及其评价

基于对广东珠海城区暴雨径流污染的监测,引用SCS模型对城区暴雨径流污染负荷进行估算并分析评价。结果表明,珠海城区暴雨产流年平均1529.2mm,其中以交通主干道和商业区径流量最大。暴雨径流污染物浓度水平较高,T—N,T—P,COD_(Cr)和BOD_5负荷总量分别为765.27,74.06,11 958.94和1104.71t,其中COD_(Cr)负荷为工业点源污染的72.32％,占珠海非点源污染总负荷的24.69％。暴雨径流在雨后短时间内会使受纳水体的水质迅速恶化。因此,珠海城区暴雨径流对水环境的威胁较大。     

Combined effects of best management practices on water quality in oxbow lakes from agricultural watersheds

Water quality conditions in three oxbow lakes were examined before and after best management practices (BMPs) implementation within the Mississippi Delta. Experimental design called for the development of structural and cultural treatments to reduce sediment and associated pollutants entering watershed oxbow lakes. Three watersheds were selected and developed with different levels of BMPs. Changes in lake water quality were used as measures of management success. Analyses of water quality data prior to the implementation of BMPs suggested the lakes were stressed and ecologically damaged due to excessive sediment inflow. Significant improvements in water quality were observed with the use of cultural and structural BMPs. Sediments decreased 34–59%, while Secchi visibility and chlorophyll generally increased. The most dramatic improvements in water quality occurred in the two watersheds that featured cultural practices and combinations of cultural and structural practices. Reducing suspended sediment concentrations in these oxbow lakes favored phytoplankton production resulting in increased chlorophyll concentrations and higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Cultural BMPs, more so than structural BMPs, play a vital role in improving lake water quality, and are needed in addition to structural measures to ensure improved water quality in oxbow lakes receiving agricultural runoff.     

Treatment of Road Runoff by a Combined Storm Water Treatment, Detention and Infiltration System

Storm water detention devices collect runoff from impermeable catchments. They provide flow attenuation as well as storage capacity, and rely on natural self-purification processes such as sedimentation, filtration and microbial degradation. The aim was to assess the performance of an experimental combined planted gravel filter, storm water detention and infiltration tank system treating runoff from a car park and its access road. Flows were modeled with the US EPA Storm Water Management Model. An overall water balance of the system was compiled, demonstrating that 50% of the rainfall volume escaped the system as evaporation, whereas, of the remaining 50%, approximately two thirds were infiltrated and one third was discharged into the sewer system. These findings illustrated the importance of evaporation in source control, and showed that infiltration can be applied successfully even on man-made urban soils with low permeability. The assessment of the system’s hydrological efficiency indicated mean lag times of 1.84 and 10.6 h for the gravel filter and the entire system, respectively. Mean flow volume reductions of 70% and mean peak flow reductions of 90% were achieved compared to conventional drainage. The assessment of the pollutant removal efficiency resulted in promising removal efficiencies for biochemical oxygen demand (77%), suspended solids (83%), nitrate-nitrogen (32%) and ortho-phosphate-phosphorus (47%). The most important removal processes were identified as biological degradation (predominantly within the gravel ditch), sedimentation and infiltration.     

山东临朐2019年“8·10”特大暴雨水土保持调查

2019年8月10日6时至12日6时,受台风“利奇马”影响,山东淄博、东营、潍坊等地区发生特大暴雨天气,造成了严重的水土流失灾害。暴雨发生后,水利部水土保持监测中心组织调查人员,运用现代技术手段对暴雨中心典型小流域进行了系统、全面的水土保持实地调查。结果表明:(1)本次特大暴雨降雨量为570.6 mm,最大24 h降雨507.6 mm,均超过历史记录;(2)本次暴雨造成严重水土流失灾害,典型小流域水蚀模数达9741 t/km^2,是多年平均值的2.4倍,梯田损毁率达5.96%,河道淤积厚度达10~30 cm,近1/3生产道路完全损毁,引起了严重的重力侵蚀,多处发生滑坡、泥石流;(3)通过对比小流域调查发现,高林草覆盖和重点工程治理分别可削减洪峰模数79%和36%,降低水蚀模数分别达80%和54%;重点治理小流域道路损毁比例减少23.9%,梯田损毁减少40.4%,重力侵蚀减少40%以上。调查摸清了本次特大暴雨径流输沙特征、土壤侵蚀状况、水土流失成灾情况、水土保持措施效益等,初步形成了科学的暴雨水土流失调查方法体系,为今后暴雨水土保持调查制度的建立提供了良好基础。     

Tillage practices for soil and water conservation in the semi-arid zone III. Runoff modeling as a tool for conservation tillage design

A method of runoff calculation and prediction has been developed, based on known soil properties and a probability analysis of historical rainfall data. The method provides an evaluation of the efficiency of any tillage system for conserving runoff water. It consists of four steps: (1) the infiltration characteristics of a particular soil type under a given management regime are determined with the aid of a portable rainfall simulator; (2) the long-term record of actual rainfall of the region is analyzed for storm intensity distribution; (3) runoff amounts and rates are calculated for all rain storms on record by a method which combines the soil infiltration function and storm intensity pattern; and (4) synthetic long-term runoff values are predicted by calculations based on the rainfall probability distribution.The method was verified by comparing predicted results with available data from field experiments. In addition to predicting the probability of runoff under given soil conditions, the method is useful in providing information on the amount of surface storage required for successful performance of the basin tillage (tied-ridge) system, and aids in the evaluation of the efficacy of measures for improving soil infiltrability, e.g., of amendments such as gypsum.     

城市土壤的压实退化及其环境效应

城市土壤普遍存在严重的压实退化现象。由于压实的影响,土壤物理性质发生了显著的改变:结构破坏、容重和硬度增大、孔隙度和渗透性降低。这些重要的变化对土壤生物活动、土壤物理-化学平衡和氧化还原状况、土壤的过滤和缓冲性能都产生影响。由此对环境产生严重的负面效应:地下水的自然回灌减少,地表径流量增加,降雨的径流洪峰加快、加大,地表水体的污染负荷增加。土壤温度、微生物活动、养分转化都不同于自然土壤,植物的生长也受到严重的影响。     

基于SWAT模型的武强溪流域非点源污染关键源区界定与控制策略

随着点源污染的控制与处理技术日趋完善,非点源污染成为重要的水污染源。武强溪作为流入千岛湖的第二大支流,量化武强溪流域非点源污染负荷,解析非点源污染时空分布特征,提出适合削减武强溪流域污染物的最佳管理措施（best management practices,BMPs）对千岛湖水污染高效治理至关重要。该研究基于土壤水分评估工具（Soil and Water Assessment Tool,SWAT）分析了武强溪流域径流量、总氮输出负荷量的时空分布特征,探究了不同管理措施及组合的削减效果,提出了武强溪流域非点源污染针对性的治理措施。结果表明：1）SWAT模型对于武强溪流域径流量和总氮输出负荷量的模拟具有较好的适用性,径流量校准期和验证期的决定系数（coefficient of determination,R²）分别为0.86、0.97,纳什系数（nash-sutcliffe coefficient,NSE）分别为0.83、0.96,百分比偏差（percent bias,PBIAS）分别为15.8%、?6.3%,总氮校准期和验证期的决定系数分别为0.87、0.74,纳什系数分别为0.63、0.66,百分比偏差分别为31.6%、21.2%;2）该流域径流量和总氮负荷主要集中在3—7月,分别占全年输出量的71.67%和75.76%。综合考虑氮的来源和流失途径,将耕地和林地面积占比大、坡度陡的子流域设置为总氮的关键污染源区。考虑调整化肥施用量/配方、改变耕作方式和设置植被缓冲带等削减非点源污染的手段,进行总氮输出负荷削减效率的情景模拟,表明10 m植被缓冲带是减少总氮输出负荷的最佳单一控制策略,总氮削减率可达到69.90%;实施综合管理措施对总氮的污染削减效果更佳,10 m植被缓冲带与施肥量减少20%可使总氮削减率达到74.79%。研究结果可为千岛湖水质管理与控制提供理论基础。     

小流域径流泥沙自动采集器的试验研究

仪器仪表作为对信息进行采集、测量、处理和控制的重要手段和设备,已成为推动科学技术和国民经济高速发展的关键技术之一。在小流域出口处设置量水堰是研究流域水文过程及土壤侵蚀监测的一个重要方法,为实现小流域径流含沙量的动态监测,自行研制了一种小流域径流泥沙自动采集器,以一种简单的采样技术代替传统方法来提高含沙量测定的自动化水平及测量精度。通过模拟试验验证了采集器的适用性,结果证明采集器具有很好的可靠性和观测精度,与标准值的平均相对误差仅为0.42%。另外,该装置与传统水样收集方法相比自动化程度高,管理方便,适于野外无人看守情况下径流样品的自动采集。因此,所研制的小流域径流泥沙自动采集器有一定的应用前景。     

Use of a calibrated SWAT model to evaluate the effects of agricultural BMPs on sediments of the Kalaya river basin (North of Morocco)

Soil erosion from agricultural fields is a worldwide problem, to influence water quality, soil fertility and reservoir sedimentation especially in Mediterranean countries such as Morocco. In fact, this work assesses the effects of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on sediments using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the Kalaya watershed in Northern Morocco, to recommend the most appropriate practice. This study is based on the use of three most usable practices: contouring, strip-cropping and terracing, by the calibrated SWAT model. The general parameters of the model have been modified to reflect the implementation of different agricultural BMPs used. Resulting sediment yield were compared with the baseline scenario, for validation. However, the effective measures to reduce sediment losses at the watershed level are organized according to their effectiveness, and these are terracing (28% reduction and the value is 15t/ha/yr) followed by strip-cropping (9% reduction and the value is 5t/ha/yr). In contrast, measurements performed by the contouring are inappropriate for the study area because they have contributed to increasing the soil erosion (more than 31% of losses and the value is 17t/ha/yr more than existing conditions). Therefore, the model illustrates that the terrace is effective for reducing sediment losses and limiting soil erosion especially on steep slopes. Thus, the results provide useful information for targeted management in order to implement the most effective agricultural BMPs in the watershed.     

蔡家川流域降雨-径流关系及水量平衡分析

以晋西黄土区蔡家川流域为研究对象,利用该流域2004—2009年的降雨径流实测数据,采用多重比较和回归分析等统计方法,对降雨—径流关系及水量平衡进行了研究。结果表明,流域年耗水量占年降雨量的比例高达90%以上,是水循环过程中的重要支出项;流域年径流系数只有1.60%～2.66%;场降雨条件下径流量和洪峰流量随雨量P和最大60min雨强I60的量级具有明显的跳跃式变化,当P≥30mm时,径流量、洪峰流量分别是0～10mm雨量级的8.31,6.52倍,当I60≥20mm/h时,径流量、洪峰流量分别是0～10mm/h雨强级的3.35,16.87倍;对不同雨型下径流量、洪峰流量与降雨指标进行多元回归分析后得出,短历时高雨强的A型雨下雨强对洪峰流量的贡献率(47.12%)大于历时较长且雨强较大的B型雨(44.62%)和长历时低雨强的C型雨(32.51%),C型雨下雨量对径流量的贡献率(28.5%)大于A型雨(26.69%)和B型雨(3.15%)。     

三江平原农业需水量及适宜水稻种植面积的研究

三江平原水田面积已达95.3×10⁴ hm²，占总耕地面积的28.6%。集中种植区种植比例超过50%，最大比例为90%，造成地下水位持续下降并形成集中降深。该地区内有大面积湿地分布，地表径流减少和地下水漏斗的形成将对湿地和地区整体生态环境造成极为不利的影响。该文以农业需水量和地下水可开采模数两种计算方法，计算了适宜水稻种植的面积。结论为：在现有水田比例情况下，农业需水量为464 mm；考虑一定的径流量，适宜比例为30%，若不考虑径流，最大种植比例为50%～60%     

Review of Groundwater Pollution and Protection in Karst Areas

Karst groundwater (the water in a karst aquifer) is a major water resource in many regions of some countries. Water requirements for most of the settlements in the karstic regions are supplied from karst aquifers. Karst environments are also used for the disposal of liquid and solid domestic agricultural, and industrial wastes, which result in karst groundwater pollution. Karst aquifers have specific hydraulic and hydrogeologic characteristics that render them highly vulnerable to pollution from human activities. Karst groundwater becomes polluted more easily and in shorter time periods than water in non-karstic aquifers. Thus, protection measures are required to preserve the quality and quantity of karst groundwater that specifically consider the vulnerability of the karst environment. In order to preserve karst groundwater, the geological, hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics of the karst area must be investigated and information on polluting activities and sources must be collected. Then, a comprehensive protection and control system must be developed consisting of the following six components: (1) develop and implement a groundwater monitoring system, (2) establish critical protection zones, (3) develop proper land use strategies, (4) determine the reasonable development capacity of the karst aquifer, (5) control and eliminate when necessary sources of pollution, (6) increase public awareness of the value and vulnerability of karst aquifers.     

河岸缓冲带净污机制及其效果影响因子研究进展

随着经济社会的飞速发展,农业面源污染已成为导致河流、湖泊、水库等水体水质恶化、营养化的重要原因.居于水陆交界处的河岸缓冲带对净化河流水质具有重要作用,被认为是控制面源污染的“最佳管理措施”（BMPs）之一.在系统地总结国内外河岸缓冲带净污机制及其净污效果影响因子所取得的主要研究成果的基础上,针对目前研究中存在的不足,提出净污机制研究不局限于氮、磷等营养元素以及地表径流去污的机制研究,除考虑自然因素外,还应综合考虑人为因素对河岸带净污效果的影响.     

Effect of Lake Management Efforts on the Trophic State of a Subtropical Shallow Lake in Lakeland, Florida, USA

For more than a decade, Lakeland, FL, has invested in restoring its urban Lake Hollingsworth from a hypereutrophic state to its natural eutrophic state. The lake bottom was dredged of nearly 2 million m³ of accumulated organic sediments, and treatment wetlands, storm water curb inlet strainers, and a storm water baffle box were installed within the lake’s catchment area to reduce the loading of dirt, leaves, and trash to the lake. After dredging ceased, the lake was dosed one time with alum to improve water clarity and reduce phosphorus recycling from its sediments. Water quality surrogates for algal biomass— Secchi disk transparency and water column total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-α concentrations— were reviewed to assess Lakeland’s progress towards its goal. In the years since dredging has stopped, algal biomass concentration in Lake Hollingsworth has significantly declined. Even with these improvements, however, the lake still remains hypereutrophic.     

Influences of human activities on sediment discharge from devastated weathered granite hills of southern China: effects of 4-year elimination of human activities

Sediment discharge is a serious problem in the weathered granite mountains of southern China. Human activities, such as the harvesting of ferns and litter for fuel, are the main source of sediment, but the details of the processes and mechanisms leading to sediment discharge are unclear. Data on sediment yields, percentages of peak storm runoff and fern undergrowth and litter cover extent in the two basins—one a control from which people have been excluded since 1997, and the other where normal harvesting practices are permitted—were used to evaluate how human activity affects sediment discharge. The annual sediment discharge decreased immediately after implementing control practice, despite no marked changes in the 4 years after 1997 in the percentages of peak storm turnoff and the fern and litter cover extent and density. The 4-year period of control practice was too short to affect the relationship between peak rainfall and peak storm runoff and the fern and litter covers and their amounts, but long enough to contribute to the reductions in sediment discharge in the control basin by decreasing erodibility. Thus, sediment discharge was probably reduced to some extent by the elimination of human impacts even though a well-developed vegetation layer did not develop.     

Best management practices for forested wetlands in the Southern Appalachian Region

Forestry best management practices (BMPs) have been developed for all of the states included in the Southern Appalachian Region (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia). All of the state forestry BMPs were developed to reduce nonpoint source pollution from forestry operations. However, the states have developed BMPs that differ substantially with regard to methodology, particularly for forested wetlands. The state BMP guidelines vary in several major areas, including wetland types, BMP manual detail, streamside management zones, harvesting operations, site preparation operations, regeneration systems, road construction, and timber removal activities. An understanding of the similarities and differences between the state BMP guidelines will allow the forested wetland manager to comply with or improve upon existing forestry BMPs for wetlands.     

Evaluation and validation of a commercial ELISA for diazinon in surface waters

The performance of a commercially available microtiter plate ELISA kit for the determination of diazinon was evaluated for sensitivity, selectivity, intra-assay repeatability, accuracy, and matrix effects in fortified distilled water and filtered and unfiltered environmental surface water samples. Repeatability and reproducibility studies show that the kit satisfies current EPA criteria for the assessment of analytical methods. Mean recoveries from spiked samples averaged 80.3, 95.5, and 103.5% from distilled, unfiltered surface, and filtered surface waters, respectively. The experimentally determined method detection limit (MDL) for the commercial diazinon microtiter plate format (0.0159 microg L(-)(1)) was comparable to the least detectable dose (LDD) established by the manufacturer (0.022 microg L(-)(1)). Specificity studies indicate that the diazinon polyclonal antibody can readily distinguish the target compound from other structurally similar organophosphorus analogues, with the exception of diazoxon. Cross-reactivity with the oxon was approximately 29%, while reactivity with pirimiphos-methyl, pirimiphos-ethyl, and chlorpyrifos-ethyl was negligible. A slight matrix effect was discovered to be present in both filtered and unfiltered environmental water matrixes, but its effect on the immunoassays is insignificant within experimental error. For validation of the microtiter plate ELISA format, environmental surface and storm runoff water samples were collected, split, and analyzed directly by ELISA and by liquid-liquid extraction followed by GC (California State Department of Food and Agriculture method EM 46.0). Results of the two analytical methods were then compared statistically. A close correlation was found between methods for unspiked and untreated river water samples (r = 0.969) while a much less robust correlation was obtained for runoff waters (r = 0.728). Results from runoff waters exhibit a particularly high positive bias for the ELISA method relative to the GC method. Cross-reactivity of diazoxon and probably other unidentified cross-reacting components may be responsible for the exaggerated account of the target analyte in surface and runoff waters. While excellent for screening purposes, further study is required to elucidate and quantify the factors responsible for the consistent overestimation of ELISA results before the kit can be employed routinely for regulatory compliance monitoring.